Boy accused of highway rampage to remain in custody

Police alleged the boy was behind the wheel of a stolen truck when he crashed into another vehicle and led officers on a pursuit along the Warrego Highway.

The teenage boy accused of leading police on a pursuit along the Warrego Highway while in a stolen Hino truck has had his matters briefly mentioned in the Toowoomba Children’s Court.

Police have charged the 17-year-old teen with 24 offences arising from an incident on Friday morning.

He has been held in custody since his arrest on Friday.

On Tuesday his matters were briefly mentioned in the Toowoomba Children’s Court.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on July 13.

The boy is charged with four counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, two of evading police, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, serious assault of police while adversely affected, obstructing police, wilful damage, possessing a knife in public, and driving while under the influence.

Police will allege the teen was behind the wheel of a truck that was stolen from an Oakey address.

He was observed on the Warrego Highway at Toowoomba and police attempted to spike the vehicle’s tyres but were ineffective.

“We then pursued the vehicle further and subsequently it did collide with a civilian vehicle,” Darling Downs Country Patrol Inspector Danny Shaw said.

“Police have then hopped out and ran up to the driver’s side door and tried to gain entry and broken the window.

“One of the officers has injured his hand in trying to do this.”

Video on social media shows four police cars in pursuit of the vehicle along the bypass at Cranley, before it turned off at the Mort Street exit.

Police said the stolen vehicle came to a stop on Harth Street, where the offender continued on foot before he was arrested.

The teen was held in custody ahead of his appearance in the Toowoomba Children’s Court.

He was not required to enter a plea.

“The Toowoomba community can be confident police are doing all they can to apprehend offenders, and this is evidenced by the great work in apprehending the person involved,” Insp Shaw said.

“Our officers put themselves at significant risk by trying to stop these individuals driving stolen vehicles.”